THE NAMES OF GOD

REGULAR NAMES
It is undoubtedly clear that names are of great significance to us. Our names are who we are: our attributes AND our names define who we become: our character.

Historically, many people take on names that result in either their demise or their success. Even nicknames must be chosen carefully.

One modern example of a person who lived a name that became his reality was David Koresh in Waco, Texas. He was a cult leader who believed he was Cyrus. He was born Vernon Howell but legally changed his name to David Koresh. Cyrus or KOWRESH, pronounced kō' resh in Hebrew, literally means ‘possess thou the furnace’. He and 52 adults as well as 21 children died in a great fire at the cult’s compound. You can read the full story in Time Magazine by clicking his name above.

Throughout early English history, people were known by their attributes and character. The Smiths were blacksmiths and the Carpenters were carpenters for example.

People also took the names of the places they originated from or the places took on the names of the wealthy owners. For example, one was either from Kent or a Kent by birth, from Rochester or a Rochester by marriage.

Prince Charles is currently the Prince of Wales and when (the now deceased) Lady Diana married him she became the Princess of Wales. Prince William of Wales who is Charles’ son became Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus on his wedding day, while his wife Catherine Middleton became Duchess. He took on four titles for four places familiar to him from birth.

BIBLICAL NAMES
In the Holy Bible every name has a meaning. In fact, many people who came into contact with God had to change their names because their character and the course of their lives had changed with that contact. Here are some examples:

Abram whose name meant ‘father of elevation’ became Abraham meaning ‘father of a multitude’ (Genesis 17:5). Hoshea whose name meant ‘welfare, salvation’ became Joshua meaning ‘whose help or salvation is Yehovah’ (Numbers 13:8, 16). Jacob’s name meant ‘taking hold of the heel, supplanter, layer of snares’ but he became Israel or ‘contender, soldier of God’ (Genesis 32:28). Hadassah whose name meant ‘myrtle’ became Esther meaning ‘star’ (Esther 2:7).

GOD’S NAMES
The scriptures tell us that God is unchanging. He is, has always been and will always be. But what name should we use to address God? Throughout scripture God’s attributes and character are shown through His many names.

Let us look briefly at some names of God that define Him. Context is important when using the names because some of them have been used in scripture to refer to false gods. The context of Genesis 1:1 for example is the plural creator God represented in three persons.

Here are 7 Hebrew names for God:
>>>1. Elohiym, Genesis 1:1, a plural name of the one true God.
>>>2. Yehovah, Genesis 15:2, the proper name of our Supreme God.
>>>3. El can be used as a prefix or a suffix. It means God.
>>>>>a. El-Elyown, Genesis 14:18, God the Most High.
>>>>>b. El-Shadday, Genesis 17:1, God Almighty.
>>>>>c. El-Owlam, Genesis 21:33, God Everlasting.
>>>>>d. El-'Elohey Yisra'el, Genesis 33:20, Mighty God of Israel.
>>>4. Adonay, Genesis 18:27, The LORD.
>>>5. Elowahh, Deuteronomy 32:15, God.
>>>6. Elahh, Ezra 4:24, God (generally) [This is Aramaic].
>>>7. Tsuwr, Isaiah 44:8, God depicted as a rock of refuge.

Here are 3 Greek names for God:
>>>1. Theos, Matthew 1:23; Romans 3:30, The Godhead (the trinity).
>>>2. Kurios, Mark 1:3, the Lord and master (in this case Christ).
>>>3. Pater, Matthew 7:11, Father (here it refers to God in Heaven).

TRIUNE GOD
It is interesting that the ancient Jewish Rabbi and some of the modern ones knew/know about the plural triune God who is revealed in the scripture often referred to as the foundation of Judaism. That scripture says:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD:" Deuteronomy 6:4

Let us briefly examine the words "The LORD our God is one LORD" in this scripture so we can understand what the Rabbi knew/know.

The LORD = Yehovah - Supreme God
our God = Elohiym - plural God
is one = echad - the same, only one of its kind, together, joined in one, united
LORD = Yehovah - Supreme God

This is literally saying: SUPREME GOD, OUR PLURAL GOD, IS THE SAME AND ONLY ONE OF HIS KIND, TOGETHER, JOINED IN ONE, UNITED, SUPREME GOD. God revealed His triune nature in the Torah (Jewish Scripture). WOW!

There are 16 other names of God in the Holy Bible that are God's attributes. They are directly related to mankind in that God IS each one to us at different times in our lives. They are all Yehovah-titles. I will list them here in this post, in the order they appear in scripture but will give the details of each one in 16 upcoming posts.

Look for my 16 upcoming posts.

God Bless You!